Remote-control toy and field for the same

ABSTRACT

A remote-control toy is provided that includes: a controller ( 2 ) that transmits a control signal according to an operation by a user; a movable body that is controlled to drive based on the control signal from the controller; and a field in which the movable body can move. The movable body includes a detecting unit that reacts to a predetermined object to be detected and outputs a detection signal, and a processing unit that performs predetermined processing in response to the output of the detection signal. The object to be detected can be placed in the field in such a manner that the position of the object to be detected can be changed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This is a U.S. national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 ofInternational Patent Application No. PCT/JP2004/000279 filed Jan. 16,2004, and claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2003-010463 filed Jan. 17, 2003 which is incorporated by referenceherein. The International Application published in Japanese on Aug. 5,2004 as WO 2004/064958 A1 under PCT Article 21(2).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a remote-control toy that transmits acontrol signal from a controller to a movable body, thereby controllingthe movable body.

BACKGROUND ART

There have been games in which movable bodies such as combat vehicles ofremote-control toys battle against each other in firing gun, forexample.

In such conventional battle games, however, the outcome of each game isdecided only by interactions between the movable bodies (such as themagnitude of damage caused by each attack). Therefore, the play contentssuch as the way of playing, the game procedures and so on are limited.Because of this, the game is likely to become monotonous, and users getbored with it soon. Also, to enjoy the thrill of attacks to be made on amovable body, it is always necessary for the user to have an opponent,because such a thrill cannot be felt when there is only one player.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide aremote-control toy that gives a wider variety of play contents andprovides more excitement through a means to affect the movable bodies inaddition to the interactions of the movable bodies.

The above described problems are eliminated by a remote-control toy thatincludes: a controller that transmits a control signal according to anoperation by a user; a movable body that is controlled to drive based onthe control signal from the controller; and a field in which the movablebody can move. In this remote-control toy, the movable body includes adetecting unit that reacts to a predetermined object to be detected andoutputs a detection signal, and a processing unit that performspredetermined processing in response to the output of the detectionsignal. The object to be detected is placed in the field in such amanner that the position of the object to be detected can be arbitrarilychanged.

According to the present invention, when a remotely controlled movablebody detects an object to be detected in a field, the movable bodyperforms a predetermined operation such as a vibrating operation. Inthis manner, the movable body is affected not only by another movablebody but also by the field. When the object to be detected can causedamage to the movable body, a user can enjoy the remote control on thefield with a thrilling feeling because the user tries to avoid theobject to be detected. When the object to be detected adds to the score,a user can enjoy the remote control on the field with an expectingfeeling because the user tries to detect the object to be detected.Further, the position of the object to be detected can be arbitrarilychanged. Thus, monotonousness caused by repeating the same situation canbe avoided.

The predetermined object to be detected may be a magnet, and the fieldmay have a plurality of placement portions in which the predeterminedobject to be detected can be embedded.

Thus, a magnet as an object to be detected is simply embedded in adesired one of the placement portions. If the object to be detected isto change positions, the object to be detected is simply moved intoanother one of the places to embed the object to be detected.

The field may have a mat and a cover that cloaks the surface of the mat,and the placement portions may be concave portions that are open throughthe surface of the mat.

Thus, the cover can hide the entire surface, even if a magnet isembedded in a concave portion formed in the surface. Accordingly, a usercannot visually recognize the existence of the embedded magnet.

A protruding member protruding from the surface of the mat may beprovided on the surface of the mat in such a manner that the position ofthe protruding member can be arbitrarily changed. The protruding membercan also be cloaked by the cover.

By covering the protruding portion of the protruding member protrudingfrom the surface of the mat, a convex portion is made, which has the endtop of the protruding portion as a peak of the convex portion. Bycombining the convex portion and flat portions, an undulating landformcan be formed on the field. Thus, variable movements of the movable bodycan be enjoyed.

The predetermined object to be detected may be attached to the top endof the protruding member. With this arrangement, a field in which aconvex portion is not necessarily free of an object to be detected canbe formed.

The field may have a joining portion to be joined to another field. Withthis arrangement, the size and the shape of a field can be selectedaccording to the occasion and the location. Also, a field can be formedas the territory of a user. In this manner, a battle game can beenjoyed, with the field of the user being joined to the field of theopponent.

The above described problems are also eliminated by a field in which amovable body can move, with the movable body being controlled to drivebased on a control signal transmitted from a controller according to anoperation by a user. The movable body includes a detecting unit thatreacts to a predetermined object to be detected and outputs a detectionsignal, and a processing unit that performs predetermined processing inresponse to the output of the detection signal. The object to bedetected is placed in the field in such a manner that the position ofthe object to be detected can be arbitrarily changed. Using this field,the remote-control toy can be realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a controller and a movable body in this embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2A shows the exterior of a field of this embodiment;

FIG. 2B shows the damage control to be performed when the movable bodyreacts to an object to be detected;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the movable body;

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the field;

FIG. 5A shows a magnet and a hole in which the magnet is to be embedded;

FIG. 5B shows an example set of plastic sticks;

FIG. 5C shows an example set of magnet-attached plastic sticks;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views showing convex portions thatare formed with a field cloth and plastic sticks;

FIG. 7A shows a situation in which an iron sheet is placed on a magnet;

FIG. 7B shows regular magnetic field lines;

FIG. 7C shows magnetic field lines that are changed by placing the ironsheet onto the magnet;

FIG. 8 shows a case where the holes have different depths;

FIG. 9 shows fields joined through joining portions;

FIG. 10A shows an example case where magnets are placed on the reverseside of the surface of the field;

FIG. 10B shows a field in which electromagnets are used; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the operation to be performed by the controldevice of a movable body when the movable body detects an object to bedetected.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2A show an embodiment of the present invention. A combatvehicle model 1 as a movable body is remotely controlled with driveinformation contained in a control signal transmitted from a controller2. The combat vehicle model 1 can move in a field 3. The means of anykind for remote-controlling the combat vehicle model 1 may be employed.For example, infrared rays, electric waves, or radio frequency may beemployed. In this embodiment, two or more combat vehicles 1 can beremotely controlled at once, and can attack one another in a game. Thefield 3 has undulations 55 and magnets 4 as predetermined objects to bedetected. Each combat vehicle model 1 has a magnetic line sensor 5 asthe means of detecting the magnets 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the magneticline sensor 5 is preferably located at a lower portion of the combatvehicle model 1, so as to facilitate the detection of the magnets 4. Thestructure of the field 3 and the method of placing the magnets 4 will bedescribed later in detail.

When the magnetic line sensor 5 detects one of the magnets 4, the combatvehicle model 1 performs a damage control operation by rotating thevehicle body or the turret on the spot, as shown in FIG. 2B. During thedamage control, remote control from the controller 2 is inable. In thisembodiment, the damage control lasts approximately five seconds, but theduration of the damage control is not limited to that. Also, thecontents of the damage control are not limited to the above operations,but combinations of light emission from the combat vehicle model 1, achange in vehicle body color, and vibration of the vehicle body may beemployed. With the above structure, a battle game can be played, withthe magnets 4 being regarded as landmines. Hereinafter, the operation tobe performed for damage control when the combat vehicle model 1 detectsa magnet 4 will be referred to as the damage control operation.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the combat vehicle model 1. Thecombat vehicle model 1 includes a control device 10 as a processing unitthat performs operations including the damage control operation. Thiscontrol device 10 is formed as a computer that includes a CPU andvarious peripheral circuits such as a RAM and a ROM that are requiredfor the operations of the CPU. Especially, the control device 10includes a damage control operation unit 12 that performs predetermineddamage control.

In addition to the magnetic line sensor 5, the control device 10 isconnected to a remote-control signal light receiver 13 a that receivesthe control signal or the like transmitted from the controller 2, aremote-control signal light emitter 13 b that transmits signals such asfiring information from the combat vehicle model 1, and operating motordrivers 15 a, 16 a, and 17 a for driving operating motors 15 b, 16 b,and 17 b. As the operating motors, the running motor 15 b that generatesrunning operations, the turret motor 16 b that causes the turret torevolve, and the vibrating motor 17 b that causes the vehicle body tovibrate, are provided. However, motors to be employed here are notlimited to the above.

The remote-control signal light receiver 13 a receives the light of afiring signal that is transmitted as firing from the remote-controlsignal light emitter 13 b of another combat vehicle model 1. Uponreceipt of the firing signal, the remote-control signal light receiver13 a sends the signal to the damage control operation unit 12 of thecontrol device 10. Based on the signal, the damage control operation 12determines the power of the gun fire or the like, and the damage controloperation caused by the gun fire is performed. For example, a damagecontrol instruction suitable for the situation of the gun fire isgenerated for each of the operating motor drivers 15 a, 16 a, and 17 a,and is then output. According to the output damage control instruction,the operating motor drivers 15 a, 16 a, and 17 a drive the respectiveoperating motors 15 b, 16 b, and 17 b.

When sensing magnetic lines with a density of a predetermined value orhigher, it is determined that a magnet 4 has been detected and themagnetic line sensor 5 outputs a detection signal to the control device10. In this embodiment, a Hall IC is employed as a sensor deviceconstituting the magnetic line sensor 5. Since magnets exhibit variouscharacteristics depending on materials, shapes, and methods ofmagnetizing, a sensor that is suitable for the characteristics ofmagnets to be used is employed as the magnetic line sensor 5.

when the detection signal that is output from the magnetic line sensor 5is input to the control device 10, the detection signal is output to thedamage control operation unit 12. A damage control instruction suitablefor the case where a magnet 4 is detected as a landmine is output fromthe damage control operation unit 12 to each of the operating motordrivers 15 a, 16 a, and 17 a. According to the damage controlinstruction, the respective motors 15 b, 16 b, and 17 b perform damagecontrol. Further, by the damage control instruction from the damagecontrol operation unit 12, the control device 10 ignores the controlsignal from the controller 2 that has been received by theremote-control signal light receiver 13 a. Even if the control signal isdirected to the subject combat vehicle model 1, the drive information isnot output to the operating motor drivers 15 a, 16 a, and 17 a.Alternatively, a signal that causes crosstalk with the control signalcontaining the drive information to the subject model 1 from thecontroller 2 may be generated.

Referring now to the flowchart of FIG. 11, the flow of the damageoperation to be performed by the control device 10 after the combatvehicle model 1 detects a magnet 4 is described. Upon receipt of asignal from the magnetic line sensor 5 that notifies a magnet 4 has beendetected, the control device 10 starts counting the timer (step S50).This timer measures the time for performing damage control. In thisembodiment, the duration of damage control is set to be five seconds, asdescribed above. When the counting of the timer starts, an instructionto perform the damage control operation is issued (step S51). The damagecontrol operation includes the operation of physically driving thecombat vehicle model 1, and the operation of nullifying the driveinformation from the controller 2. Whether the counting of the timer hasbeen ended is determined (step S52). When it is determined that thecounting of the timer has not been ended, the damage control operationis continued. When it is determined that the counting of the timer hasbeen ended, that is, five seconds have passed, the damage controloperation is suspended (step S53), and the control device 10 returns tothe regular operation.

Next, the structure of the field 3 is described. As shown in FIG. 4, thefield 3 includes a rectangular mat 20 and a field cloth 21 to cover themat 20.

The field cloth 21 is preferably a soft, thick cloth that can transmitthe magnetic paths of the magnetic lines from the magnets 4. Althoughthe field cloth 21 has a square shape in this embodiment, it can be ofany size and shape, as long as it can cloak the entire surface of themat 20.

The mat 20 has a square surface in this embodiment, and is made of aurethane of such a thickness as to embed the magnets 4. The shape of thesurface is not limited to the square shape, though. On the surface ofthe mat 20, holes 22 as the placement portions for embedding the magnets4 are formed. Velcro (registered trade mark) straps 23 on the fourcorners of the mat 20 are provided to prevent the field cloth 21 frommoving.

Next, the holes 22 in the mat 20, the magnets 4 embedded at the holes22, and plastic sticks 25 and magnet-attached plastic sticks 26 aredescribed. The plastic sticks 25 and the magnet-attached plastic sticks26 are protruding members that are used to form the undulations 55.

As shown in FIG. 5A, each magnet 4 has a cylindrical shape, and eachhole 22 is a cylindrical hole to accommodate the magnet 4. So as tosteady the magnet 4 embedded in the hole 22, the diameter R1 of the hole22 should preferably be the same as the diameter R2 of the magnet 4. Themagnet 4 is a permanent magnet, and is embedded in the hole 22, with theside to react to the magnetic line sensor 5 facing upward. The depth ofeach hole 22 is approximately the same as the thickness of each magnet4. Only a single magnet 4 may be enough in a game, but more excitementof playing can be realized by two or more magnets 4. Also, the shape ofthe magnet 4 and the shape of the hole 22 are not limited to the abovedescribed shapes.

The plastic sticks 25 are made of plastic. As shown in FIG. 5B, thin,long cylinders with different lengths should preferably be prepared.Each of the plastic sticks 25 is inserted in a hole 22 in which a magnet4 is not embedded, so that each of the plastic sticks 25 stands. As thestanding plastic sticks 25 are covered with the field cloth 21, each ofthe plastic ticks 25 pushes up the field cloth 21 to form amountain-like landform, as shown in FIG. 6A. The plastic sticks 25 withvarious lengths are provided on the mat 20, so as to form variouslandforms. If the plastic sticks 25 have uniform lengths, the depths ofthe holes 22 are made different from each other, as shown in FIG. 6B. Inthis manner, the same landforms as in the case with the plastic stickswith different lengths can be formed.

Only with the plastic sticks 25, the combat vehicle models 1 can avoidthe magnets 4 as landmines by running only on the convex portions.Therefore, the magnet-attached plastic sticks 26 having the magnets 4attached to the top ends of the sticks 26 are prepared, as shown in FIG.5C. The magnet-attached plastic sticks 26 have the same sizes and shapesas the plastic sticks 25, except that the magnets 4 are attached to thetop ends. With the side with a magnet 4 facing upward, eachmagnet-attached plastic stick 26 is placed in the same manner as placingeach plastic stick 25. After the plastic sticks 25 and 26 are coveredwith the field cloth 21, users cannot distinguish the convex portionsformed by the magnet-attached plastic sticks 25 from the convex portionsformed by the plastic sticks 25. Thus, a landform in which convexportions are not always safe can be formed.

In this embodiment, the protruding members are the plastic sticks 25 andthe magnet-attached plastic sticks 26 that are made of plastic. However,the protruding members may be made of any other material, as long as thematerial does not react to the magnetic line sensor 5 and does notaffect the magnetic field formed by the magnets 4. Also, it is possibleto form accommodating portions for the plastic sticks 25 and themagnet-attached plastic sticks 26 besides the holes 22.

Further in this embodiment, the post processing described below isperformed after a magnet 4 is detected, so that a game development canbe extended. Referring now to FIGS. 7A to 7C, the post processing isdescribed.

After the combat vehicle model 1 detects a magnet 4 and a damage controloperation is performed, a user can place an iron sheet 30 on the magnet4 as the post processing, as shown in FIG. 7A. Here, the diameter R4 ofthe iron sheet 30 is greater than the diameter R2 of the magnet 4. Withthe iron sheet 30, the magnetic paths that are output from the magnet 4can be widened, as shown in FIG. 7C. Also, the magnetic flux densitybecomes smaller than in the regular case illustrated in FIG. 7B. As themagnetic flux density becomes smaller than the detecting range, themagnetic line sensor 5 cannot detect the magnet 4 below the iron sheet30, and the combat vehicle model 1 can safely run over the iron sheet30. By placing the iron sheet 30 on the already detected magnet 4, thecombat vehicle model 1 can be prevented from being damaged by the samemagnet 4, as long as the iron sheet 30 covers the magnet 4.

The object to be placed on the magnet 4 is not necessarily an ironsheet, as long as the object has the characteristics that can reduce themagnetic flux density in the magnetic field formed by the magnet 4.However, a ferromagnetic body such as the iron sheet 30 that sticks tothe magnet 4 is more preferable, because it steadies on the magnet 4.

By preparing magnets 4 with different magnetic intensities, it becomespossible to provide various detectable distances from the magnets 4.Accordingly, a wider variety of games can be enjoyed.

Even with magnets 4 with the same magnetic intensities, the depths ofthe holes 22 are varied as shown in FIG. 8, so that the magneticintensity of the magnet 4 embedded in the deeper hole 22 is madesmaller. Thus, the same effects as when the magnets 4 with variousmagnetic intensities are prepared can be obtained.

The field 3 may be joined with another field 3. For example, a hook or abelt as a joining portion may be provided to the mat 20, so that the mat20 can be joined to another mat 20. Alternatively, irregular portions 33may be formed on each of the peripheries surrounding the mat 20, so thatthe mat 20 can be engaged with another mat 20, as shown in FIG. 9. Auser can form the field 3 as his/her territory on his/her mat 20 withthe magnets 4, the plastic sticks 25, and the magnet-attached plasticsticks 26. The field 3 can be joined to another field 3 that is formedas the territory of an opponent. When a combat game is played on thejoined fields 3, users can feel greater thrills, as the combat vehiclemodel 1 of each user has to run in the unknown territory of theopponent.

The above described embodiments are merely examples, and the presentinvention is not limited to those embodiments. Accordingly, variouschanges and modifications can be made to those embodiments.

For example, it is possible to form the field 3 as a box-like structurethe inside of which is hollow. FIG. 10A shows an example of such astructure. In this example, placement portions 37 in which the magnets 4are to be embedded are formed on the reverse side of the surface 36 onwhich the movable body 1 is to run. The magnets 4 are attached to thereverse side of the surface 36, with the side of each magnet 4 to besensed by the magnetic line sensor 5 facing upward with respect to thefield 3.

The detection objects 4 may be electromagnets. FIG. 10B shows an exampleof this embodiment. The field 3 is formed as a matrix structure in whichcoils 40 each having a magnetic body as its core are arranged in amatrix fashion. The coils 40 are electrically connected to one another,and the current flowing through each coil 40 is controlled by a positioncontrol device 42. As the coils 40 do not form a magnetic field in thesituation where current is not applied to the coils 40, the magneticline detector 5 cannot detect the coils 40. However, once current isapplied to the coils 40 by the position control device 42, the coils 40become electromagnets to form magnetic field lines in uniformdirections. The electromagnets are detected by the magnetic line sensor5. Each of the coils 40 has its own coordinates. A user can designatethe coordinates of a coil 40 to be a detection object 4 to apply currentonly to the designated coordinates by the position control device 42. BYdoing so, a detection object 4 can be formed at any located chosen by auser. A coil 35 to which current is to be applied can be not onlydesignated by a user, but also randomly designated using a randomnumber, regardless of the will of the user. Furthermore, coils 40 withdifferent lengths may be prepared and be cloaked by the field cloth 21in the above described manner, so that an undulating landform can beformed.

Further, the field 3 may be a structure in which electromagnets andmagnets can be embedded at the same time.

In the above described embodiments, the detection objects 4 thatgenerate magnetic field lines, and the magnetic line sensor 5 thatsenses magnetic field lines of uniform directions are used. However, thecombination of the magnetic line sensor 5 and the detection objects 4 isnot limited to the above, as long as the magnetic line sensor 5 candetect the detection objects 4 in a non-contact state. For example,invisible electromagnetic waves that do not cause crosstalk of controlsignals for remote control can be used. When the detection objects hassuch characteristics as to reflect the material to which the magneticline sensor 5 reacts, even if the detection objects do not output thematerial from themselves, the magnetic line sensor 5 can detect thedetection objects 4 by detecting the reflected material output fromothers.

As described so far, the present invention can provide a remote-controltoy that gives a wider variety of games and provides more excitementthrough a means to affect the movable bodies besides a means to affectthe movable bodies to each other.

1. A remote-control toy comprising: a controller for transmitting acontrol signal according to an operation by a user; a movable body forbeing controlled based on the control signal from the controller; and afield member on which the moving body is allowed to move, wherein themovable body includes: a detecting unit for reacting to a predeterminedobject to be detected and for outputting a detection signal; and aprocessing unit for performing a predetermined process in response tothe output of the detection signal, wherein the field member comprises:a mat; a cover that cloaks a surface of the mat; and a plurality ofplacement portions, in which the predetermined object to be detected canbe embredded, which are concave portions that open through the surfaceof the mat so that the position of the object to be detected can bearbitrarily changed.
 2. The remote-control toy according to claim 1,wherein the predetermined object to be detected is a magnet.
 3. Theremote-control toy according to claim 1, further comprising a protrudingmember protruding from the surface of the mat is provided on the surfaceof the mat in such a manner that the position of the protruding memberis adapted to change, and the protruding member also is adapted to becloaked by the cover.
 4. The remote-control toy according to claim 3,wherein the predetermined object to be detected is attached to the topend of the protruding member.
 5. The remote-control toy according toclaim 1, wherein the field member has a joining portion to be joined toanother field member.
 6. A field member on which a movable body isallowed to move, the movable body being controlled based on a controlsignal transmitted from a controller according to an operation by auser, the movable body includes a detecting unit for reacting to apredetermined object to be detected and for outputting a detectionsignal, and a processing unit for performing a predetermined process inresponse to the output of the detection signal, wherein the field membercomprises: a mat; a cover that cloaks a surface of the mat; and aplurality of placement portions, in which the predetermined object to bedetected can be embedded, which are concave portions that open throughthe surface of the mat so that the position of the object to be detectedcan be arbitrarily change changed.
 7. The field member according toclaim 6, wherein the field member has a joining portion to be joined toanother field member.